NPR News

Mary Carole Battle's Mother's Wacky Cake

NPR

Published August 15, 2007 at 11:41 AM EDT

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon white vinegar

6 tablespoons cooking or salad oil

1 cup cold water

In an 8-inch- or 9-inch-square cake pan, sift the dry ingredients. Make three holes; pour the vanilla in the first, vinegar in the second, and oil in the third.

Pour the cold water over the mixture, and stir until no longer lumpy. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. If desired, top with seven-minute frosting (below).

Seven-Minute Frosting

2 egg whites

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/3 cup cold water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients except the vanilla extract in top of a double-boiler; beat about 1 minute to mix together. Place over bottom half of double-boiler; once water has started boiling, beat on high for 7 minutes. Soft peaks should form easily; remove from heat and add vanilla. Beat another minute or two.